Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act

Communities that have not yet adopted a new ordinance reflecting the changes in the law WILL continue to capture events but WILL NOT issue violations until the ordinance is approved.

THE CITY OF GREEN COVE SPRINGS HAS ADOPTED A NEW ORDINANCE REFLECTING THE CHANGES IN THE LAW, AND WILL CONTINUE TO ISSUE VIOLATIONS.

Changes under the new law:

Right-on-red violations - Right-turn-on-red violations can still be issued if the driver fails to make the turn in a “careful and prudent manner.” The amendment further defines issuance standards by prohibiting violations for failing to stop before crossing over the stop line or another point at which a stop is required. In other words, if the driver comes to a complete stop before or after the stop line and before turning right, then a violation will not be issued.

Extended hearing request timeframe - Persons who receive a notice of violation for running a red light now have either 60 days to pay the violation or request a hearing. No payment or fee is required before the hearing if one has been requested.

Local hearing officers - Cities and counties now need to appoint their own local hearing officer. Local governments may recoup the costs for this service by assessing administrative hearing fees of up to an additional $250, in addition to the $158 statutory penalty.

Transfers of Liability and Uniform Traffic Citations - Previously, the law allowed a person who received the ticket to transfer the violation to the person who was driving the vehicle, but the transfer was only possible as a Uniform Traffic Citation, which carries a higher fee. This no longer applies. Now a Notice of Violation or a UTC can be reissued by the owner of the vehicle to the person who was driving and a new Notice of Violation will be issued. A UTC will only be issued if the alleged violator fails to request a hearing, pay the fine or transfer the liability within 60 days of issuance.

Where does the money go?

Many people believe that all the money from these citations goes to the local government, and to the traffic company that runs the cameras, but that is not true.The largest portion of the money goes to the State of Florida.Of that money, $10 goes to a fund to support trauma centers and $3 dollars goes to The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.To watch a video about this, click here: